Ectopic beats in bed?

[Asdfvv]

Why do I tend to get ectopic beats when I lie down in bed. Usually when I lie on my right side? Could the beats be caused by indigestion?

[BobD Volunteer]

Could be vagal related yes. The heart and stomach are linked by the same (Vagus) nerve so one can affect the other. Search top right for breathing exercises as there is a very good slow deep breathing exercise which often calms ectopics.

By the way it is quite possible they are there a lot more than you realise but your position makes you notice.

[EngMac]

Yes, these can happen but it is not the heart that could be the issue. If you look at some of my posts about the neck and back, you may understand why.

Last week my Chiropractor suggested a couple of exercises to help strengthen my back muscles and when I did them, and only three times, my heart palpitations were the worst that I have ever had. Within 20 seconds of laying down, I would get AF. I can always stop the AF with about 20 minutes of exercise and if I stand when the palpitations start, I can stop AF occurring. Sometimes the valsalva procedure will help. So back to the chiropractor and he made some adjustments to my back and neck and now palpitations are much less. What I have learned from 1.5 years of chiropractic adjustments, that for my vagal AF, the position and condition of my neck and back are the reason for my AF and palpitations. Just by moving my back or neck, and I have learned how to do this, I can most often stop palpitations. If I do something physical to my neck or back, like laying a certain way in bed, I know what will happen. Just monitor your pulse and if you seem to have missed beats, which are likely extra beats, and they begin to get worse, then you know you need to change your physical position, such as standing if you are sitting or laying down. Sometimes, I am ok and many times not. Chiropractic adjustments have been very helpful. I just keep my thumb on my wrist to check my pulse to monitor a change, especially when I first lay down. Unfortunately, for me, the palpitations have not been eliminated all the time. Getting nerves to heal is a long process and if they are constantly impacted this will take longer. Very few chiropractors know anything about this and even fewer will try or have the expertise to help. Take a look at the YouTube video Heart Arrhytytmias - the Missed Cause by Dr. John Bergman. As an experiment, try manipulating your back or turning your head and holding it in a position for a few minutes to see if this affects the palpitations; and if it does, then you know your neck or back is likely a major contributing factor. If you pay close attention, you will come to notice when your heart is acting up and you may learn how to make it behave.

For me this has been the most effective option of all the ones that I have tried. And it does not require drugs or surgery, so what's to lose. I don't take drugs so I don't know how they might prevent you from noticing what your heart is doing. Don't expect heart doctors to believe you if you ask about this. At lease this has been my experience with all the doctors that I have asked, including Dr. John Mandrola, a very outside the box EP doctor who has AF.

[CGGG in reply to EngMac]

I thought the thumb had a pulse? Should you not check your wrist pulse with index and middle finger?

[EngMac]

I don't know about the thumb pulse. It is just more convenient to use my thumb. Whatever works for you. The thumb does not seem to raise any issues for me.

After a few days of having the palpitation issues, I can now lay down again without a problem and I am not having irregular beats now. This has happened before so hopefully it will be ok again for a while. It seems once my back is not causing an issue then the heart does not either.